Mueller Co.

Robert E Sands

Joseph L Daghe

Carl E Floren

Gary L Bouc

John R Rice

M Dale Stanley

Dennis W Humes

William L Hauffe

Donald F Mack, Jr

Robert D Brownlow

An electrically-insulated pipe coupling includes a first tubular metal body, a second tubular metal body which has a cylindrical section and which has molded onto it an electrically-insulating covering extending over the end of the body and a portion of the cylindrical section, a coupling member for securing the two metal bodies together at their respective ends and which is disposed over the juncture of the two metal bodies in such a manner that a portion of the electrically-insulating covering molded onto the second tubular body extends beyond the coupling member, and an electrically-insulating barrier extending outwardly from the cylindrical section of the second tubular body and disposed about the portion of the electrically insulating covering extending beyond the coupling member.

Electrically insulated piped coupling employing a radial insulating

A handwheel expansion mechanism including a meter adapter, a handwheel body and an expansion cup. The expansion cup is slidingly engaged with the meter adapter, and the handwheel body is rotationally coupled to the meter adapter. Rotation of the handwheel body cause the handwheel body to create a space between the base of the meter adapter and the handwheel body. At the same time, metal-on-metal contact between the handwheel body and the expansion cup causes the expansion cup to pushed along the meter adapter.

Three piece handwheel having expansion mechanism for meter box or meter

Valve

The present invention provides a valve assembly having a bore fitted with an operating member, whereby the operating member operatively controls a valve member to permit or prevent fluid flow through the valve assembly. The bore extends along a longitudinal axis and has a selected diameter in one portion and a diameter greater than the selected diameter on an interior portion. The bore further includes an annular transition portion extending with diminishing diameter from the interior portion to the one portion of the bore. The operating member is substantially cylindrical and includes a first portion which closely interfits with the one portion of the bore and a second portion which has an annular convex surface disposed to face the transition portion of the bore. The annular convex surface of the operating member and the transition portion of the bore form a metal-to-metal seat which performs desirably in a high temperature environment. The valve member is disposed in a valve housing between two rubber sealing rings. The rubber rings are disposed in recesses partially defined by annular lips. When the valve assembly is exposed to high temperature, the rubber rings burn and char away sufficiently and the valve member engages one of the annular lips to form a metal-to-metal seat to limit any leakage.

Gas ball valve

A method of manufacturing a ball valve member for cooperation with a valve and a ball valve member includes utilizing a cutting tool having first and second annular cutting surfaces with one of the cutting surfaces having a smaller radius than the other cutting surface whereby a slot is cut in the surface of the ball valve member to a greater depth than heretofore possible for permitting greater penetration of a valve stem into the ball valve member and recess is formed adjacent the slot for the ball valve stem for receiving a lug member mounted on the stem to increase torque transmission to the ball valve element when the operation step is rotated.

Method for forming a ball valve connection

A method of manufacturing a ball valve member for cooperation with a valve and a ball valve member includes utilizing a cutting tool having first and second annular cutting surfaces with one of the cutting surfaces having a smaller radius than the other cutting surface whereby a slot is cut in the surface of the ball valve member to a greater depth than heretofore possible for permitting greater penetration of a valve stem into the ball valve member and a recess is formed adjacent the slot for the ball valve stem for receiving a lug member mounted on the stem to increase torque transmission to the ball valve element when the operation stem is rotated.

Method for forming a ball valve connection and structure

A valve housing is provided with an interior passage therethrough with the passage having two spaced apart valve seats; a first check valve member for engaging the first valve seat has a valve stem movably carried in a hollow shaft; the second valve member is itself provided with a tubular stem having an open end and which is slidably fitted on the exterior of the hollow shaft; separate coil springs are provided for urging each valve member toward a closed position on the respective valve seat whereby the each valve member is operable independently of the other valve member.

Dual check valve

A water meter service installation including both a water meter and a backflow protection device, both utilizing the same water meter box. The present installation can be retrofitted to existing meter boxes in the field as an elongated tubular extension is detachably connected to the water meter box in alignment with an opening therein, the extension extending therefrom and being capable of housing a cartridge insert member telescopingly positioned therein, the cartridge insert member having a pair of check valves in series to prevent backflow of water through the meter. By utilizing the tubular extension bolted to the exterior of the meter box, very little, if any area is taken up within the meter box and, thus, an existing meter box can still accommodate the conventional water meter while being provided with a backflow protection device in the form of a double valve cartridge insert.

Water meter service installation

A relief valve assembly for use in backflow preventers having at least one check valve, the relief valve assembly being operable in response to changes in differential pressure across the check valve and in fluid connection downstream of the check valve for discharging liquid therefrom to atmosphere when a backflow condition occurs. The at least one check valve prevents backflow from a service pipe to the supply pipe but when the at least one check valve is fouled, and a backflow condition occurs, the relief valve assembly operates to permit the discharge of the liquid from the service line and prevent contamination of the supply line.

Relief valve assembly for use with backflow preventers

A backflow preventer apparatus designed for connection between a supply pipe having liquid under pressure and a service pipe, the backflow preventer apparatus comprising a pair of check valves in series and defining a zone therebetween, a relief valve operable upon a change in differential pressure across the upstream check valve, and a vacuum breaker operable upon a drop in pressure in the zone to a predetermined pressure supply above atmospheric pressure. The differential pressure operable relief valve, when opened upon certain operating conditions, causing the zone to drain to atmosphere. The vacuum breaker operates independent of supply pipe pressure or service pipe pressure but solely on a drop in pressure in the zone.

Backflow preventer apparatus

A check valve assembly for use in backflow preventer apparatus or the like, the check valve assembly being of the poppet valve type. The assembly includes a body member having a flow passage therethrough with an inlet and an outlet, the body member further having an annular valve seat in said passage and an opening in its wall opposite and coaxial with the valve seat. A tamperproof preloaded valve module is inserted through said opening for coacting with the valve seat and the module is retained in position within the body by a cover plate closing the opening.

Check valve assembly for use in backflow preventers or the like

A coupling joint for releasably coupling two telescoping tubular members in sealing relationship to one another, one of the tubular members being continuously urged inwardly relative to the other tubular member whereby a seal between said members may be maintained at all times. The coupling joint, which may be utilized in a valve or the like with the valve body representing one of the tubular members and a bushing representing the other of the tubular members inserted into the open end of the valve body, includes the use of a resilient ring such as an O-ring for retaining the two tubular members together, the ring being positioned in opposed grooves in the telescoped portion of the tubular members. One of the grooves on one of the tubular members is a retaining ring groove for retaining the resilient ring during assembly of the two tubular members, and the other of the grooves on the other of the tubular members is a groove having a camming surface thereon so oriented that when the grooves are opposed to one another with the resilient ring therebetween, the compressive forces in the resilient ring seeking to expand the same exert resultant forces on the tubular members to cause said tubular members to be urged toward one another.

Growing community of inventors

Shelbyville, IL, United States of America

Robert E Sands